Bill responds to scandal in California state parks

August 26, 2013

Bill responds to scandal in California state parks
By The Associated Press 3:03 p.m.Aug. 26, 2013

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lawmakers have sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill designed to deter a repeat of the financial scandal that rocked the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
The bill by Democratic Sen. Richard Roth of Riverside requires that state department heads swear under penalty of perjury that they are sending accurate budget information to the state Department of Finance. Violations could bring prison terms of up to four years.
SB801 is in response to the discovery last summer of $54 million hidden in two parks department special funds.
Part of the problem was that parks officials did not provide proper financial data to state budget officials. The parks director and others lost their jobs.
Senators agreed to Assembly amendments on a 37-0 vote Monday, sending the bill to the governor.
The Associated Press